And we all know that every time Fox News makes the claim that they are fair and balanced, a small puppy dies.
Posted on 07/21/2010 1:04:01 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
A USDA worker became the first innocent causality in the verbal race war being played out in the media between conservative entities and the NAACP.
Yesterday, the mainstream media was buzzing about a Shirley Sherrod, former agriculture director of rural development in Georgia and virtual unknown, who was forced to resign after a video surfaced on conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart’s Big Government website (and replayed over and over again on Fox News) of Sherrod supposedly expressing racist intent and remarks before an NAACP banquet. Sherrod, who was condemned by the NAACP, was taped speaking about an encounter she had with a white farmer 28 years ago, who she said appeared to have superiority issues and yet was asking her for assistance.
Later on in the news day, the wife of the white farmer, who supposedly was discriminated against by Sherrod, came forward and defended her, saying that Sherrod had worked tirelessly to help the couple save the farm. It was also “discovered” that the tape had been edited (gasp again) to produce a false biasness on Sherrod’s part. And surprise, surprise, the NAACP, which originally supported Sherrod ousting, is claiming to have been “snookered” and is now petitioning the administration to reinstate Sherrod. The only question I have for Breitbart, the USDA and the NAACP is: do you like some ham to go with all that egg on your face?
What started off as an obvious (and the key word is obvious) made-up controversy to smear the NAACP, now has some legs thanks to the knee-jerk reaction by the USDA, the NAACP and quite possibly the Obama Administration, who signed off and supported the calls for Sherrod’s resignation. If all parties involved in this fiasco would have spoken with Sherrod, considered the source or at the very least, paid attention to the video in its entirely; they would have seen that Sherrod was recounting what was ultimately a learning experience for her.
Here was a woman, whose father was murdered by the KKK and some odd years later finds herself fighting to help a white farmer, with possible racial issues of his own, save his property. Through this experience, Sherrod learned that that the struggle for fairness and equality wasn’t so much about black vs. white, but rather the haves and the have-nots. In other words, Sherrod had discovered that when she stopped only being a member of a race and embraced her role as a human being, she began to realize that the fight was for ALL people that needed it. Because when you’re poor, regardless of the color, nobody wants to help you.
And yet, Breitbart and Fox News ( in its effort to deflect charges by the NAACP of racism in the Tea Party), the NAACP, ( in its haste to counter-act charges of racism in its own midst) and the USDA and the Obama Administration ( in their haste to distance themselves from anything remotely controversial even if the controversy was made-up to begin with), reacted in such a way that not only used Sherrod as a scapegoat, but proved that the fight to maintain a political edge has little regard for the plight of the little guys. Oh, how I love the irony.
Breitbart is a despicable example of what a journalist is suppose to be. And we all know that every time Fox News makes the claim that they are fair and balanced, a small puppy dies. As contemptuous and dishonest as Breitbart and Fox News are, I come to take whatever they say with a grain of salt. I also expected that other news outlets, which didn’t hesitate for a second to jump on this story and beat us over the head with it for half-a-day, to actually investigate and research a story before engaging in both character and career assassination – especially when the source is Breitbart.
I also believe that the USDA and the Obama Administration not only owes Sherrod an apology but they owe Sherrod her job back – with a pay-raise for her troubles. Finally, we are all owed an apology from the NAACP and the conservative entities for the endless hours of distractions in the form of who is racist and who is not racist. Acorn, Van Jones and now Sherrod: how many more people doing the actual work for fairness and equality for us everyday folks will be caught in the cross hairs of this political wrangling, race-baiting and ego tripping?
It should be noted that Sherrod’s encounter with the white farmer occurred, not when she was an employee of the federal government, but rather when she worked for The Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Fund, which is a non-profit organization founded for the purpose of assisting farmers in land retention and development issues, particularly African-American farmers. This part of the story had been conveniently edited out of Breidhart and Fox News.
Most ironic is that the Federation has also been a vocal voice in the fight with the US Department of Agriculture to finally pay out the $1.2 billion in reparations owed to plaintiffs in a class actions suit, which alleged discrimination practices in USDA lending to black farmers. Over 3700 black farmers are still waiting for compensation while legislation has yet to be passed through Congress.
If I had confessed to discriminating against anyone in my job at the state employment office, whether 24 minutes ago or 24 years ago, I would've been fired on the spot, guaranteed! She was in a much higher position than I was and should be held to an even higher standard!
>>supposedly expressing racist intent <<
Even a blatant admission isn’t enough for these ostriches.
And what would have happened to a white official who said blacks should be sent to their “own kind” for help?
The double standard here is appalling.
What started off as an obvious (and the key word is obvious) made-up controversy to smear the NAACP, now has some legs thanks to the knee-jerk reaction by the USDA, the NAACP and quite possibly the Obama Administration, who signed off and supported the calls for Sherrod’s resignation. If all parties involved in this fiasco would have spoken with Sherrod, considered the source or at the very least, paid attention to the video in its entirely; they would have seen that Sherrod was recounting what was ultimately a learning experience for her.
_______________________________________
Man these liberal elitists howl like a dog when they get out-Alinsky’d.
I love it.
No. That would be Rush Limbaugh who was denied bidding rights on an NFL franchise because of phony "racist" quotes attributed to him by Leftists on wikiquote.
Mainstream news reported on this???
When??
After she denied helping him directly.
And we all know that every time Fox News makes the claim that they are fair and balanced, a small puppy dies.
“Oh, it’s still about black versus white, but it’s also about the poor versus those who have.” - Shirley Sherrod
Racism + Marxism = Obama Administration Employee
>>Here was a woman, whose father was murdered by the KKK<<
Southern Democrats killed her father? Wow.
Sourcing that would have been a nice touch, ya think?
1. free from moral wrong; without sin; pure: innocent children.
2. free from legal or specific wrong; guiltless: innocent of the crime.
3. not involving evil intent or motive: an innocent misrepresentation.
4. not causing physical or moral injury; harmless: innocent fun.
5. devoid (usually fol. by of ): a law innocent of merit.
6. having or showing the simplicity or naiveté of an unworldly person; guileless; ingenuous.
7. uninformed or unaware; ignorant.
They are trying desparately to deflect blame from themselves and their rush to judgement. Her redeption part of the story was not edited out of the video Breibart posted at 8am Monday.
Next we will hear...”Free Shirley Mumia”
Acorn: racist
Van Jones: racist
Sherrod: racist
Okay, got that settled, next?
Regardless, what is a woman who admits to being a Racist (at least at some point) doing in a position at the USDA? Did I miss some new rule that we can forget about one’s Racist past (certainly not the case with Trent Lott speaking of Strom Thurmond)? Or, if one is a Democrat, a Racist past is acceptable?
I'm also wondering, does this also mean that those who are registered sex offenders can have their pasts forgotten and some day be allowed to be teachers if they so desire (perhaps, only if they're Democrats)?
And she's hardly redemptive when she goes on to accuse Republicans of opposing 0bama "because he's a black president." How about that "We put up with the Bushes for eight years" stuff, how is that not racist?? People are buying this whole notion of her seeing the light way too quick, IMO.
NOW ON CNN: “RACE IN AMERICA: SHIRLEY’S STORY”
The Canonization of marxist, racist Shirley Sherrod has begun.
And the villians? Fox News and Breitbart.
This needs to be headed off immediately with FACTS and TAPES. She is not a saint. The Marxist Mythology Makeover needs to be tempered with verifiable, documented truth of her long term bigotry.
The field is now engaged. Fight to win.
What is her father’s name?
This is the Strom Thurmond effect only it’s permissible for her to be a reformed racist.
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